Step-ladder.



No. 629,589. Patented July 25, I899. J. OWEN.

STEP LADDER.

(Application filed Nov. 11, 1898.)

(No Model.)

A HOB/VH6 UNITED ST TES- PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OWEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,589, dated July 25,1899. Application filed November 11, 1898, Serial No. 696,121. (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN OWEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStep-Ladders, of which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements instep-ladders. My invention particularly relates to that class ofknockdown step-ladders which can be readily taken apart after use andfolded together in such a manner that the same will form a small andcompact bundle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ladder of thischaracter with supporting-braces, which when not in use can be folded,thereby forming a small and compact bundle, as well as the.supporting-standards for the braces.

My'invention finally consists in the novel combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings,

' forming a part of this specification, wherein like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsthereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my improved stepladderwhen set up. Fig. 2 is a side view of the supportingbraces of the ladderwhen folded. Fig. 3 is a side View of the upper part of the stile andsupport therefor, the top step being partly in section, showing thesecuring means. Fig. 4is a perspective view of the top step and thefastening means for securing the stile thereto. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of a portion of one of the braces which form the stile, showing thehinge connection by which it can be folded upon itself and also thesecuring means for rigidly securing the sections together when set up.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the fastening means for the steps, oneof the steps being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a perspective Viewof the upper portion of one of the braces, showing the hinge connection.4

In constructing my improved ladder I provide the braces or stile of theladder of four or more sections 1 2 3 4, the sections 1 and 2 beinghinged together by means of the hinge 5, secured to the side thereofnear the top, as Well as the sections 3 and 4, which are hinged togetherin the same manner as at 6. Sections 2 and 3 are hinged together ontheir inner edges by means of the hinge 7 and are adapted to fold in themanner as shown in Fig. 2. 'The sections 2 and 3 are fastened togetherwhen set up by means of the eyes 8, which are connected to their edges,having the eyebolt 9 operating therethrough. Sections 1 and 2 and 3 and4 are secured together when set up by means of the brace-irons 10, whichare fastened to their inner sides, as at 11, and have screw-threadedrods 12, which are formed integral with the underneath faces of theextensions 10 of the brace-irons 10. This screw-threaded rod is adaptedto operate through the aperture 13, formed in the hinge, and a portionof the adjacent section is secured in position by means of the nut 14,which is mounted on the screw-threaded portion thereof. The sides of thehinges 5 'and 6 are adapted to be bent at right angles, as

at 14 15, and form supports for the upper ends of the sections, as shownin Fig. 5.

The rear supporting-standards for the stile areformed of sections 16 1718 19, which are fastened together in the same manner as sections 1 2 34, the same reference-numerals being applied thereto to designate theparts.

The section 1 of the brace or support for the stile has secured to itsupper end a pair of supporting-irons 20 and 21, one on each sidethereof, each having an eye formed in its free end toreeeive a pivot-pin22 for connecting thereto a half-hinge 23, which is fastened to theupper end of the section 16 of the supporting-standard.

The top step 24 of the ladder is secured to the sections 1 and 16 bymeans of the hook 25, which is adapted to engage the iron 21 with itshook end in the recess 26, formed in said iron. The hook 25 operatesthrough the aperture formed in the top step and is held in position bymeans of the nut 26 operating, on the upper end thereof.

The steps 27, as well as the supportingbraces for the standards, (notshown',) are adapted to be inserted in the inclined cut-away portions28, which are formed on the inner faces of the braces andsupporting-standards. These steps and braces are readily secured inposition by means of the clip 29, which is fastened to each side of thestep or brace by means of the screws 30. The outer end of the clip 29has formed integral therewith a rod 31., which operates through theelongated slot 32, formed in the section, as shown, and this rod 31 hasmounted thereon an oblong washer 33 and a securing-nut 84.

35 indicates a chain to prevent the ladder from spreading and is securedto the inner edge of the sections 4 and 19.

It is thought that the setting up of my improved ladder can be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description,taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a step-ladder, the combination of the stiles composed of a seriesof sections suitably hinged together, means carried by said sections forlocking the same in the extended position, combined with a series ofsteps, means connected to each of said steps except the up permost forrigidly securing the same to the stiles, and a pair of hooks secured tothe up permost step for fastening the same to the stiles, substantiallyas described.

2. In a step-ladder, the stiles composed of a series of sectionssuitably hinged together and having inclined cut-away portions and slotsformed therein, a series of steps adapted to be mounted in said cut-awayportions, and means carried by said steps operating through theelongated slots for securing the steps rigidly in position substantiallyas shown and de scribed.

3. In a step-ladder, the stiles composed of a series of sectionssuitably hinged together, and each having an inclined cut-away portionand an elongated slot formed therein, a series of braces adapted to bemounted in said cut away portions, and means carried by said bracesandoperating through the elongated slots for rigidly securing the saidbraces in position, substantially asL'shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

JOHN O \VEN.

lVitnesses:

JOHN NoLAND, E. WV. ARTHUR.

